You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

• use "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file

If "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

• keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Did you verify that this isn't a problem with places.sqlite since I see that my above reply is marked as unhelpful?

If no history at all is kept and you aren't in PB mode then either history is disabled or there is a problem with places.sqlite. We regularly see issues on Mac with places.sqlite and usually the only thing that works is to delete places.sqlite to start with a fresh database.

It returned my history, but it deleted all my bookmarks and tab shortcuts. I ended up going to a backup of the places.sqlite file. I got history back and tab shortcuts and bookmarks. But I'm missing recent bookmarks. I don't know at what point the problem came up, and deleting the file fixed it sort of, but replacing all places files with a much earlier version did a better job. Thank you for pointing it out to me.

Firefox should normally rebuild the bookmark from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

• Bookmarks -> Show All Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore

You will always lose the history in case of issues with places.sqlite because there is no backup of the history, only backups for the bookmarks are created.

Didn't you have recent backups available in this folder or do you keep Firefox running for a longer time?

The name of an automatically created JSON bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder includes a total item count (folders and separators included) and an hash value to prevent saving the same backup more than once.

• bookmarks-YYYY-MM-DD_<item count>_<hash>.jsonlz4.

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't know what a JSON file is. I know I will "lose the history in case of issues with places.sqlite" but I didn't have history in the first place. I lost bookmarks though. As for keeping Firefox running for a longer time, I made a backup of the places.sqlite file and quit Firefox. I deleted the places file. I restarted Firefox, and it created a new places file. Then my bookmarks were gone. I deleted the places file and put in the old one. The bookmarks were still gone. I restored an older one. The bookmarks were still gone. I went through Time Machine and found one a number of months old, and my bookmarks came back. I don't know where to find any backup of my bookmarks.

Do you know how to open the Bookmarks Manager (Library; Show All Bookmarks)?

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/bookmarks-firefox

The third toolbar button in the Library is Import & Backup (first: Organize; second: Views; third: Import & Backup). This item has a Restore item in the drop-down list

• Bookmarks -> Show All Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore

Firefox automatically daily check there have been changes made to the bookmarks and if encrypt creates a backup of the bookmarks. You can find a list of available backups under the Restore item.

The name of an automatically created JSON bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder (Import & Backup -> Restore) includes a total item count (folders and separators included) and an hash value to prevent saving the same backup more than once.

• bookmarks-YYYY-MM-DD_<item count>_<hash>.jsonlz4.

That's so cool! I realize it's something simple, but I didn't know it existed before. So a new places file didn't help my history, but an old one did. And I was able to restore bookmarks. Now I have history and tab shortcuts (or whatever it's called) and bookmarks. Thank you!

You're welcome.